In a loud and unorganized meeting Wednesday night, the StudentSenate spent most of their time listening to various students soundoff.
Many senators and student observers voiced opinions in thepublic input portion of the meeting, causing most to becomerestless as the meeting pushed three hours in length.
The fiercest debate came to a head when Sam Moore, a masscommunication senior, addressed the Senate about comments Sen. AdamJohnson said at last week’s Senate meeting.
Last week, Johnson raised questions about the Union ProgrammingCouncil’s decision to host a $900 drag show on campus. He said hethinks there is a better way to educate people on “gayness” thanhosting a drag show.
“To me, that’s almost perverse,” Johnson said in the Oct. 20Senate meeting.
Moore told the Senate Wednesday that education is not limited tositting in classrooms and listening to lectures.
“It is defined as experiencing things that you are notordinarily accustomed to,” Moore said. “You don’t have to like it,but you should give it a chance.”
Moore also said the use of the word “perverse” was outrageous,irresponsible and offensive. He said senators should be more awareabout what they say in a public forum.
In his own defense, Johnson, a University College Center forAdvising and Counseling representative, apologized to the Senate,saying he was sorry if his comments offended anyone. But said hewould not apologize for questioning the way UPC spends $900 ofstudent fees.
But as Johnson continued to speak, he angrily rescinded hisapology and said he still thinks the drag show is perverse and wasnot targeted at a large enough group of students.
“There are a whole hell of a lot better ways to educate peoplethan a drag show,” he said.
Johnson also said the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgenderpeople are hurting themselves, not him, by holding the dragshow.
After Moore and Johnson initiated the debate, several othersenators and students signed up to comment on the drag show.
Jennifer Vitter, a Spectrum Alliance member, said she isappalled and disgusted by Sen. Johnson’s remarks.
“Just because you disagree with us does not mean you have toshut us out,” she said.
After the drag show debate, the Senate tabled a resolutionsponsored by Sen. Lindsay Landry, a marketing sophomore, that askedsenators to urge Residential Life to provide a personalityquestionnaire in residence hall applications.
Although some of the senators said the resolution is a goodidea, they requested that Landry consult Residential Life employeesabout the logistical possibility of adding a personalityquestionnaire before they pass the bill.
And after an elaborate discussion, the senate finally voted toapprove $1,877 to help fund the business fraternity Pi SigmaEpsilon’s trip to an annual conference in Lafayette.